WANTED: Spurs have decided Mauricio Pochettino is the man to replace Tim Sherwood as boss [GETTY]

Spurs have decided the former Espanyol coach is the man they want to take over from Tim Sherwood - and are confident they’ll get him.

Rodriguez, who is recovering from a knee injury which ruled him out of the World Cup said: "It's up in the air and we're not too sure at the moment.

"I'm just trying to focus on my rehab because that's all I really can do, and I don't want to get sidetracked by anything else.

"He (Pochettino) is unbelievable. I think anyone will say what a great manager he is and what a good guy he is, to see how well he's done with the type of football we're playing.

"I think he's worked us hard and we've seen the benefits from it so I think he's a great manager and I love playing under him."

Rodriguez was expected to join Saints team-mates Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw in Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad until he suffered his season-ending injury against Manchester City in April.

The 26-year-old has himself been the subject of speculation about his future but is currently fighting to recover in time for the start of the 2014/15 Premier League season.

"There's not really a timescale on when I'll be back," Rodriguez told talkSPORT.

"I don't want to rush anything at all because it's important I do everything properly and come back stronger than when I actually finished.

"This is a testing time for my career but I think I'm going to come out of it with a positive ending for me. It's going to test me but I think it's going to improve me, mentally and physically."